Workplace Deaths Continue To Fall ‘But Plenty Still To Do’

Lawyers React As New HSE Figures Reveal 133 People Died At Work In 2013/14

29.10.2014

Specialist workplace injury lawyers have welcomed new Health and Safety Executive (HSE) statistics which revealed that the number of people killed or seriously injured at work in the UK has continued to fall, but warned more must be done to cut the figures further.

The Health and Safety Statistics for 2013/14 revealed that 133 people were killed at work across the period analysed, with 77,593 workers also suffering seriously injuries.

It also revealed that the highest rates of fatalities were found in the construction industry, as well as in agriculture, waste and recycling.

Irwin Mitchell’s team of workplace injury lawyers specialises in helping victims of accidents at work to gain vital financial support to aid their rehabilitation and also provides support to families seeking justice after losing loved ones in such tragedies.

Expert Opinion

While it must be welcomed that fatalities and serious injuries in the workplace have been on a downward trend for a few years now, we must remember that this is a reflection of the improved attitudes across the UK in relation to health and safety practices.

"The stringent checks and inspections that are in place, as well as the sanctions that businesses face for breaching the rules all help to reduce the number of injuries in the workplace.

"However, the figures show that 133 people still lost their lives at work across 2013/14 and each and every one of these will have had a massive impact on the lives of the families and communities in which they live. It is also unacceptable that 77,593 workers suffered serious injuries.

"There remains much to be done in terms of improving health and safety at work and while we welcome any measures by government to remove unnecessary red-tape for businesses, these figures are a reminder that there are simply too many people being injured or killed at work.

"Through our work helping injured victims and the families of those killed in accidents at work to gain justice regarding what they have been through, we have seen how so many of the ordeals they have could have been avoided – whether through the use of proper risk assessments, the correct protective clothing being given to employees or appropriate training being provided. The other major issue is making sure equipment is suitable for the task at hand and well maintained.

"The workplace injury figures are undoubtedly moving in the right direction, but there is plenty more to be done to ensure that the number of people killed or seriously injured falls further."

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